Quote:
Originally Posted by ohbaby
He's not exactly trying to pick the corners with his slapshot from top of the circle. He's just trying to get it on net, but misses. He has been improving though.
Gretzky was the only one I know, off hand, who could accurately pick the corners with a slapper with any consistency. Mike Bossy was another.
I was never on the MDZ bandwagon. Even in his rookie season when he shown flashes of brilliance,... his defense was horrible. A minus 20 was the teams worst +/- that year. Rosy had to cover his butt nightly.
This year he was obviously nervous to start the season. Trying to win a job and keep it, has got to weigh heavily on your mind. But with his improved defensive game, he has weathered the storm and is gaining confidence on a nightly basis. We are seeing his offensive prowess starting to florish,... because he now knows he could handle his defensive responsibilities. He has come a long way from his rookie year. But now that we know he can be accounted for defensively, he cannot take any steps backward. He needs to continue his progress and work hard everynight.
Right now he's staying the course and his confidence is growing, but we need to see what happens when he hits a bump in the road. Whether he can shake it off or regress. That will be a big test for this young man. He can ill afford any setbacks with Torts in charge.
But I have to say, right now,... I am impressed with what I'm seeing.
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Last year's disastrous season was a blessing in disguise because it helped mold him into the player he's showing us he can be this season, and it will serve as motivation and a reminder about where he'll end up if he loses his focus & drive... I think the player you see this season is closer to the player he will be for his career than the one you saw in seasons 1 & 2....